WEBVTT 00:00:00.850 --> 00:00:04.799 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:11.910 The life of the salaf between word and deed. 00:00:11.910 --> 00:00:14.910 The conduct of the salaf regarding matters of authority. 00:00:14.910 --> 00:00:19.420 Their obedience and their urging to remain with the community. 00:00:19.420 --> 00:00:24.280 A man wrote to Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:27.379 "Write down for me all of knowledge." 00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:29.410 So he wrote back to him: 00:00:29.410 --> 00:00:31.410 "Knowledge is vast, 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:35.039 but if you are able to meet Allah 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:38.039 with a light back, free from the blood of the people, 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:41.039 an empty stomach, free from their wealth, 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:44.539 a restrained tongue, free from their honor, 00:00:44.539 --> 00:00:47.539 and adhering to the command of their community, 00:00:47.539 --> 00:00:49.549 then do so." 00:00:49.549 --> 00:00:53.049 Abu Zur‘ah al-Razi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:00:53.049 --> 00:00:56.310 "Friday prayer and Jihad are, in our view, to be performed with 00:00:56.310 --> 00:00:58.310 the righteous and the wicked 00:00:58.310 --> 00:01:04.340 among those who hold authority." 00:01:04.340 --> 00:01:10.670 Dealing with them with diplomacy, gentleness, and kindness. 00:01:10.670 --> 00:01:14.859 It was said to Usamah Ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him): 00:01:14.859 --> 00:01:18.859 "Will you not visit ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) 00:01:18.859 --> 00:01:20.359 and speak to him?" 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:22.079 He replied: 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:25.180 "Do you think that I do not speak to him 00:01:25.180 --> 00:01:27.310 unless I let you hear me? 00:01:27.310 --> 00:01:31.310 By Allah, I have spoken to him privately between me and him, 00:01:31.310 --> 00:01:34.310 without opening a door 00:01:34.310 --> 00:01:36.810 that I would be the first to open." 00:01:36.810 --> 00:01:40.340 "And I am not one to say to a man, 00:01:40.340 --> 00:01:43.840 after he has become a leader over even two people, 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:45.340 'You are the best,' 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:51.400 after I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:55.469 'A man will be brought and cast into the Fire, 00:01:55.469 --> 00:02:00.030 and he will be ground therein as a donkey grinds with its millstone. 00:02:00.030 --> 00:02:03.030 The people of the Fire will gather around him 00:02:03.030 --> 00:02:04.530 and say: 00:02:04.530 --> 00:02:06.030 'O so-and-so, 00:02:06.030 --> 00:02:11.030 were you not one who commanded the good and forbade the evil?' 00:02:11.030 --> 00:02:12.530 He will say: 00:02:12.530 --> 00:02:17.030 'I used to command the good but not do it, 00:02:17.030 --> 00:02:21.590 and I used to forbid the evil but do it myself.'" 00:02:21.590 --> 00:02:25.090 On the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: 00:02:25.090 --> 00:02:28.090 "I entered upon Hafsah and said: 00:02:28.090 --> 00:02:31.590 'You see what has happened to the people, 00:02:31.590 --> 00:02:35.219 and nothing of this affair has been entrusted to me.'" 00:02:35.219 --> 00:02:36.219 She said: 00:02:36.219 --> 00:02:40.219 "Join them, for they are waiting for you, 00:02:40.219 --> 00:02:45.219 and I fear that your staying away from them will cause division." 00:02:45.219 --> 00:02:48.250 He did not hesitate until he went. 00:02:48.250 --> 00:02:50.939 When the people dispersed, 00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:53.439 Mu‘awiyah gave a sermon and said: 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:57.939 "Whoever wishes to speak about this matter, 00:02:57.939 --> 00:03:00.439 let him show us his head; 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:04.469 for we are more entitled to it than he and his father." 00:03:04.469 --> 00:03:07.199 Habib Ibn Maslamah said: 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:11.259 "Why did you not answer him, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you?" 00:03:11.259 --> 00:03:13.319 Ibn ‘Umar replied: 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:15.319 "I loosened my garment, 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:17.319 and I intended to say: 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:19.819 'The one more entitled to it than you 00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:23.319 is he who fought you and your father for the sake of Islam.' 00:03:23.319 --> 00:03:27.610 But I feared saying a word that would divide the community 00:03:27.610 --> 00:03:29.610 and lead to the shedding of blood, 00:03:30.110 --> 00:03:36.669 so I remembered what Allah has prepared in the Gardens of Paradise." 00:03:36.669 --> 00:03:38.169 Speaking the truth openly, 00:03:38.169 --> 00:03:42.939 and not being sycophantic in advising them. 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:45.439 ‘Ubayd Allah Ibn Ziyad visited 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:48.439 Ma‘qil Ibn Yasar (may Allah be pleased with him) 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.569 during the illness in which he died. 00:03:51.569 --> 00:03:54.099 Ma‘qil said to him: 00:03:54.099 --> 00:04:01.289 "I will narrate to you a hadith I heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). 00:04:01.289 --> 00:04:05.789 I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: 00:04:05.789 --> 00:04:09.789 'There is no servant whom Allah places in charge of subjects, 00:04:09.789 --> 00:04:12.289 and he does not look after them with sincere advice, 00:04:12.289 --> 00:04:15.789 but that he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.'" 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:19.800 Muhammad Ibn Wasi‘ (may Allah have mercy on him) was 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:24.399 with Yazid Ibn al-Muhallab in Khurasan, participating in a military campaign. 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:26.399 He asked his permission to go for Hajj, 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:27.899 and he granted it. 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:29.399 He then said to him: 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:31.399 "Shall we order a provision for you?" 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:32.899 He said: 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:35.899 "Order it for the entire army." 00:04:35.899 --> 00:04:37.399 He said: "No." 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:38.399 He said: 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:41.379 "Then I have no need of it." 00:04:41.379 --> 00:04:43.879 On the authority of Zayd Ibn Aslam, he said: 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:48.439 "I was with Abu Hazim (may Allah have mercy on him) during the summer campaign, 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:52.939 and ‘Abd al-Rahman Ibn Khalid sent to Abu Hazim: 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:57.600 'Come to us so that we may ask you and you may speak to us.' 00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:59.600 Abu Hazim said: 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:01.100 'I seek refuge in Allah! 00:05:01.100 --> 00:05:03.100 I met the people of knowledge, 00:05:03.100 --> 00:05:06.639 and they did not carry their religion to the people of the world, 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:10.259 so I will not be the first to do that. 00:05:10.259 --> 00:05:14.300 If you have a need, then come to us.'" 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:17.800 ‘Abd al-Rahman came to him and asked him, 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:19.329 and said to him: 00:05:19.329 --> 00:05:23.740 "You have only increased in our estimation by this." 00:05:23.740 --> 00:05:27.240 It was said to Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:29.740 "You enter upon the ruler, 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:32.740 and they oppress and act unjustly." 00:05:32.740 --> 00:05:34.240 He said: 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:35.740 "May Allah have mercy on you, 00:05:35.740 --> 00:05:39.579 then who will speak the truth?" 00:05:39.579 --> 00:05:42.579 Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:46.079 "If I am threatened with the sword, I will not answer," 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:51.079 meaning: I will not give them an answer that contradicts the religion of Allah, 00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:53.579 which the governor or the prince desires, 00:05:53.579 --> 00:05:56.579 to please them or out of fear of them. 00:05:56.579 --> 00:05:58.139 He said: 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:01.139 "If the scholar answers out of dissimulation (taqiyyah), 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:03.139 and the ignorant person answers out of ignorance, 00:06:03.139 --> 00:06:07.529 then when will the truth be made clear?" 00:06:07.529 --> 00:06:10.029 Guidance and advice of the salaf 00:06:10.029 --> 00:06:13.850 for those who wish to engage with them. 00:06:13.850 --> 00:06:18.350 On the authority of Hudhayfah Ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: 00:06:18.350 --> 00:06:21.410 "Beware of the places of fitnah (strife)." 00:06:21.410 --> 00:06:22.910 It was said: 00:06:22.910 --> 00:06:26.980 "And what are the places of fitnah, O Abu ‘Abd Allah?" 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:27.980 He said: 00:06:27.980 --> 00:06:30.480 "The doors of the rulers. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:32.980 One of you enters upon the ruler, 00:06:32.980 --> 00:06:35.480 and confirms his lies, 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:38.579 and says what is not in him." 00:06:38.579 --> 00:06:42.180 Muslim Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:44.680 "It is appropriate for one who serves the ruler 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:48.180 not to be deceived by them when they are pleased with him, 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:52.180 nor to change toward them when they are angry with him, 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:54.680 nor to find burdensome what they entrust to him, 00:06:54.680 --> 00:06:57.680 nor to be persistent in asking them." 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:01.029 Al-Awza‘i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:07:01.029 --> 00:07:03.060 "Whoever is present with a ruler 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:06.060 and he commands something that is not right, 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:09.060 and there is no fear of missing an opportunity, 00:07:09.060 --> 00:07:13.060 then do not speak to him about it at that moment. 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:15.060 Rather, speak to him in private. 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:19.759 But if you see him commanding something where there is a fear of missing an opportunity, 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:22.259 then you must speak to him, 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:25.259 whatever may befall you as a result." 00:07:25.259 --> 00:07:29.779 Patience regarding their oppression 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:32.279 and not rebelling against them, 00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:34.779 and condemning those who do so. 00:07:34.779 --> 00:07:40.300 ‘Abd Allah Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said in his sermon: 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:42.300 "O people, 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:45.300 you must adhere to obedience and the community, 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:50.300 for it is the rope of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, which He has commanded. 00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:56.810 What you dislike in the community is better than what you love in division." 00:07:56.810 --> 00:08:01.810 Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said when the pledge of allegiance to Yazid came to him: 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:04.839 "If it is good, we are pleased, 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:07.839 and if it is a trial, we are patient." 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:12.379 On the authority of Nafi‘ (may Allah have mercy on him), he said: 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:16.379 "When the people of Madinah deposed Yazid Ibn Mu‘awiyah, 00:08:16.379 --> 00:08:20.379 Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered his family and children 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:21.379 and said: 00:08:21.379 --> 00:08:26.379 'I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: 00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:31.420 'A banner will be raised for every traitor on the Day of Resurrection.' 00:08:31.420 --> 00:08:36.480 We have pledged allegiance to this man upon the pledge of Allah and His Messenger, 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:39.480 and I do not know of any treachery 00:08:39.480 --> 00:08:44.480 greater than pledging allegiance to a man upon the pledge of Allah and His Messenger, 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:47.669 and then raising a fight against him. 00:08:47.669 --> 00:08:53.669 I do not know of anyone among you who has deposed or pledged allegiance in this matter 00:08:53.669 --> 00:08:58.090 but that it will be the deciding factor between me and him.'" 00:08:58.090 --> 00:09:01.090 It was said to al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him): 00:09:01.090 --> 00:09:03.090 "O Abu Sa‘id, 00:09:03.090 --> 00:09:06.090 a Khariji has rebelled in al-Khuraybah," 00:09:06.090 --> 00:09:09.090 which is a neighborhood near Basra. 00:09:09.090 --> 00:09:10.120 He said: 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:14.120 "The poor man saw an evil and denounced it, 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:17.120 but he fell into something even more evil." 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:19.500 Abu al-Harith said: 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:25.500 "I asked Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) about a matter that had occurred in Baghdad, 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:28.500 where a group intended to rebel. 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:29.500 I said: 00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:31.500 'O Abu ‘Abd Allah, 00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:35.500 what do you say about rebelling with these people?' 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:38.600 He denounced that against them 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:39.600 and began saying: 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.600 'Subhan Allah! 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:43.600 The blood! The blood! 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:46.600 I do not see that, nor do I command it. 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:50.659 Patience with what we are in is better than fitnah, 00:09:50.659 --> 00:09:53.659 in which blood is shed, 00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:55.659 wealth is made lawful, 00:09:55.659 --> 00:09:58.659 and sacred things are violated. 00:09:58.659 --> 00:10:01.659 Do you not know what the people were in?' 00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:04.659 meaning the days of the fitnah. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:05.700 I said: 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:07.700 'And the people today, 00:10:07.700 --> 00:10:10.700 are they not in a fitnah, O Abu ‘Abd Allah?' 00:10:10.700 --> 00:10:12.700 He said: 00:10:12.700 --> 00:10:13.700 'Even if they are, 00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:17.700 it is a private fitnah. 00:10:17.700 --> 00:10:19.730 But if the sword is drawn, 00:10:19.730 --> 00:10:22.730 the fitnah becomes widespread and the paths are cut off. 00:10:22.730 --> 00:10:25.730 Patience with this, 00:10:25.730 --> 00:10:28.730 and your religion remains safe for you, is better for you.' 00:10:28.730 --> 00:10:32.980 I saw him denouncing rebellion against the leaders, 00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:33.980 He said: 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:34.980 [Regarding] bloodshed, 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:39.529 I do not hold that view, nor do I command it. 00:10:39.529 --> 00:10:42.529 Hanbal said regarding the reign of al-Wathiq: 00:10:42.529 --> 00:10:46.590 The jurists of Baghdad gathered to see Abu 'Abd Allah [Ahmad ibn Hanbal]. 00:10:46.590 --> 00:10:49.620 They came to Abu 'Abd Allah, 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:51.620 and I sought permission for them to enter. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:52.620 They said: 00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:54.620 "O Abu 'Abd Allah, 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:58.620 this matter has become grave and widespread," 00:10:58.620 --> 00:11:02.620 referring to his public proclamation that the Qur'an is created and other such matters. 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:05.750 Abu 'Abd Allah said to them: 00:11:05.750 --> 00:11:07.779 "What is it that you intend?" 00:11:07.779 --> 00:11:08.779 They replied: 00:11:08.779 --> 00:11:15.070 "We wish to consult you, for we are not pleased with his leadership or his authority." 00:11:15.070 --> 00:11:18.070 Abu 'Abd Allah debated with them for a while, 00:11:18.070 --> 00:11:20.070 and said to them: 00:11:20.070 --> 00:11:23.070 "You must reject this in your hearts, 00:11:23.070 --> 00:11:26.070 but do not withdraw your hand from obedience, 00:11:26.070 --> 00:11:29.070 do not break the unity of the Muslims, 00:11:29.070 --> 00:11:34.070 and do not shed your blood or the blood of the Muslims along with you. 00:11:34.070 --> 00:11:37.070 Consider the consequences of your actions, 00:11:37.070 --> 00:11:40.070 and be patient until a righteous person finds relief, 00:11:40.070 --> 00:11:44.929 or one is relieved of a wicked person." 00:11:44.929 --> 00:11:51.919 [This includes] praying for them and refraining from praising them except for what is true. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:54.919 Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:57.919 "If I had a prayer that was guaranteed to be answered, 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:00.919 I would not use it except for the leader, 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:04.919 for the righteousness of the leader is the righteousness of the lands and the servants." 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:08.240 On the authority of 'Umar ibn al-Fadl, he said: 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:11.240 "I asked Abu al-'Ala', may Allah have mercy on him, 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:14.269 while al-Hajjaj was in his cloak, 00:12:14.269 --> 00:12:17.269 and I said, 'O Abu al-'Ala', 00:12:17.269 --> 00:12:19.269 shall I curse al-Hajjaj?' 00:12:19.269 --> 00:12:22.269 He replied, 'Pray for his righteousness, 00:12:22.269 --> 00:12:25.269 for his righteousness is better for you.'" 00:12:25.269 --> 00:12:30.899 Other benefits: 00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:33.899 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: 00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:37.019 "No one should assume this authority," 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:39.019 meaning the affairs of the people, 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:42.019 "except a man who possesses four qualities: 00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:45.149 gentleness without weakness, 00:12:45.149 --> 00:12:47.149 firmness without violence, 00:12:47.149 --> 00:12:50.250 restraint without stinginess, 00:12:50.250 --> 00:12:53.250 and generosity without extravagance. 00:12:53.250 --> 00:12:56.250 For if one of these is lost, 00:12:56.250 --> 00:12:58.250 the other three are corrupted." 00:12:58.250 --> 00:13:02.600 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:05.730 "If the leader is just, 00:13:05.730 --> 00:13:08.730 then he has the reward and you have the duty of gratitude. 00:13:08.730 --> 00:13:10.919 And if he is tyrannical, 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:15.269 then he bears the burden of sin and you have the duty of patience." 00:13:15.269 --> 00:13:19.370 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:13:19.370 --> 00:13:22.370 "Be fair to us, O subjects! 00:13:22.370 --> 00:13:27.399 You desire from us the conduct of Abu Bakr and 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, 00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:31.399 yet you do not conduct yourselves, nor do you treat one another, 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:34.399 according to the conduct of the subjects of Abu Bakr and 'Umar." 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:38.399 We ask Allah to assist everyone in every matter. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:42.100 On the authority of Ibn Hisham, he said: 00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:45.100 "Al-Ma'mun, may Allah have mercy on him, said to me: 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:50.100 'O 'Ali, kings tolerate everything from their subjects, 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:53.100 except for three things.' 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:57.139 I said, 'And what are they, O Commander of the Faithful?' 00:13:57.139 --> 00:14:00.169 He said, 'Attacking the king's legitimacy, 00:14:00.169 --> 00:14:03.169 divulging secrets, 00:14:03.169 --> 00:14:05.169 and violating the sanctity of the harem.'" 00:14:05.169 --> 00:14:08.700 The life of peace, 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:12.220 between speech and age.